22 Days Until Gameday – Day #72 Polk County, Nebraska

[HuskerInCarolina]

We have 22 days until our first game of the 2026-2027 football season against the Ohio Bobcats on 9/5/2026.
Yesterday we looked at Platte County, Nebraska.

https://www.on3.com/boards/threads/23-days-until-gameday-–-day-71-platte-county-nebraska.8929559/

Polk County, Nebraska

• Established in 1856 and named for President James Polk.
• License plate prefix #41.
• Osceola is the county seat but Stromsborg is the largest city in the county.
• The population is ~5,300 and has been decreasing since 1920, though there has been a slight increase since 2020.
• The county is approximately 441 square miles.
• The Platte River flows along the northwestern boundary of Polk County.
• To little surprise, Swedehome was settled by Swedish immigrants.
• Durant, NE is named after Thomas Durant, VP of the Union Pacific Railroad. Both the town of Durant and Thomas Durant are portrayed on (IMO, a really good show) AMC’s Hell on Wheels.
• Shelby was originally named Arcade but had to be renamed to avoid confusion with Arcadia.
• The main economic drivers of Shelby are farming, cattle, or hogs.
• Stromsburg was settled largely by Swedish immigrants and is the Swede Capital of Nebraska.
• The Viking Center in Stromsburg is a community center that was originally an opera house.
• The Swedish Festival is held every year in June in Stromsburg to showcase the city’s Swedish heritage.
• Osceola is named after Osceola, Iowa, which was named for Chief Osceola of the Seminole tribe.

Former Huskers and Spotlights (years are letterman years)
According to University of Nebraska-Lincoln records, there have been 12 letterman football players from Polk County, NE.


Brian Hiemer – TE 1983-1984, Shelby, NE.

• 6’3” 215lb tight end wearing #94
• Played at David City Quinas HS.
• Played at Nebraska from 1981-1984, lettering from 1983-1984.
• In 1984 he caught 12 passes for 174 yards and led the team with 4 touchdowns.
• Sadly passed away in 1985.

Dan Kobza – LB 1967-1968, Shelby, NE.

• 6’1” 210lb linebacker wearing #49
• Played at Nebraska from 1965-1969, lettering from 1967-1968.

Curt Tomasevicz – LB 2003, Shelby, NE.

• Walk-on from Shelby
• Played at Nebraska from 2000-2003, lettering in 2003.

Tom Carlstrom – G 1980-1981, Polk, NE.

• 6’5” 265lb guard wearing #78.
• All-State player out of Polk High School
• Played at Nebraska from 1977-1981.
• 1981 Honorable Mention All-Big Eight
• Selected in the 12th round of the 1982 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.

Bill Ziegelbein – C 1990-1991, Polk, NE.

• 6’4” 255lb center wearing #53.
• All-State player from Polk-Hordville High School.
• Nebraska Eight Man Football Hall of Fame member.
• Played at Nebraska from 1987-1991, lettering from 1990-1991.
• 1991 Academic All-Big Eight
• Tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in 2013.
• His stepchildren, Josiah and Rebekah Allick, would go on to play basketball and volleyball for the Huskers.

George Flippin – HB 1892-1894, Stromsburg, NE.

• 5’11” halfback
• One of Nebraska’s earliest stars from its earliest days
• A pioneer, he was the first black football player in Nebraska history and the fifth black football player in the United States.
• Scored the game winning touchdown in Nebraska’s first game against a “big time” opponent when they defeated Illinois 6-0 in 1892.
• He was elected team captain in 1894, however head coach Frank Crawford would not allow Flippin to be captain due to prejudice.
• Missouri forfeited a game against Nebraska due to Flippin’s presence on the field.
• Nebraska Football Hall of Fame Member
• He also wrestled, ran track, and played baseball at Nebraska.
• His father was a freed slave who fought in the Civil War and settled in Nebraska.
• He became a prominent doctor in the area and built the first hospital in Stromsburg.

Jack Lonowski – DT 1981, Stromsburg, NE.

• 6’2” 250lb defensive tackle wearing #67.
• Played at Nebraska from 1980-1981, lettering in 1981.

Dave Bryan – MG 1986, Osceola, NE.

• 6’2” 260lb middle guard wearing #58
• Played at Nebraska from 1984-1986, lettering in 1986.

Walter Chauner – E 1909-1911, Osceola, NE.

• Played at Nebraska from 1909-1911, lettering all 3 years.
• 2x All-Missouri Valley Conference

Bertyl Gissler – E 1943, Osceola, NE.

• All-State player from Osceola wearing #10.
• Walked on at Nebraska.
• Played at Nebraska from 1941-1944, lettering in 1943.
• Played for 3 coaches in his time at Nebraska.

William Herrmann – G 1936-1939, Osceola, NE.

• 6’ 180lb guard wearing #29
• Played at Nebraska from 1936-1939, lettering all 4 years.
• Served in the Air Force for 23 years.
• Passed away in 2010 at 97 years old.

Lawrence Shaw – T 1917, Osecola, NE.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

Other Notable or Prominent People from/born in Polk County:

Harold LeVander – Born in Swedehome, NE, and grew up in Minnesota. He served as the Governor of Minnesota from 1967-1971.

John Dunning – Born and raised in Shelby. He became a physicist who was awarded the Medal of Merit from President Truman for his work on the Manhattan Project. He specialized in neutron physics and was a pioneer in gaseous diffusion for isotope separation.

Howard Johnson – Born and raised in Shelby. He was the first ever National Hot Rod Association national champion in 1955. He founded Howard Cams.

Theodore Kiesselbach – Born and raised in Shelby. Graduated from UNL where he also became a professor. He played a key role in developing hybrid varieties of corn. In 1913 he developed the first hybrid corn in the western United States. By 1949, his hybrids would generate over $42 million of farm income for Nebraskans.

Gil Savery – Born in Shelby and raised in Lincoln. Graduated from UNL and worked for the Lincoln Journal Star from 1941-1985. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1949 for his public service efforts. He was inducted in the Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame. He received the Master Editor-Publisher Award in 2010, which is the highest honor available from the Nebraska Press Association.

Curtis Tomasevicz – From Shelby, NE, Curtis played football for Nebraska but also is a professor of biological systems engineering at UNL. He is also a professional bobsledder, winning 6 medals at the FIBT World Championships with 2 gold medals, and won gold in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and silver in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Arjay Miller – Born and raised in Shelby and moved to California at 16. While working in the Army tracking logistics for air operations, Miller was selected to a group called the Whiz Kids to bring their logistics expertise to the public sector. Miller would be hired by Ford Motor Company to their finance department. He would later become the VP of finance, and then President of Ford Motor Company. It was under Miller’s tenure the Mustang was unveiled. He is also remembered for adding safety features in automobiles in the 1950s.

James Wilson – In 1927, Wilson completed a 5-month journey from Nigeria to Eritrea (across Africa) on a sidecar. It was the first known motorized crossing of Africa by motorcycle. He would settle in Polk, NE in the late 1930s and became a corn farmer.

John Norton – Born in Stromsburg, and graduated from UNL in 1903. He was the mayor of Osceola from 1908-1909. He served in the Nebraska House of Representatives from 1911-1918 and in Congress from 1927-1929 and 1931-1933

Lynn Boden – Born in Stromsburg, he played football for South Dakota St and was drafted in the first round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.

Charles Henry Morrill – Born in New Hampshire. After fighting in the Civil War, he moved to Iowa to start a homestead. After 5 years he moved to Stromsburg where he ran a farm and a small store. Morrill was a secretary to Governor Nance and together they formed the Bank of Stromsburg. His explorations took him to what eventually became Scottsbluff. He purchased a tract of land for a town at the western edge of the state and named it after himself (Morrill, NE). Morrill County is named after Charles Morrill. He was a member of the board of regents from 1890-1903 and was president of the board from 1893-1903. He contributed funds for paleontological research and established the Morrill Geological Yearly Expeditions. It is those expeditions that have produced artifacts and exhibits at the State Museum in Morrill Hall.

Ashton Shallenberger – 15th Governor of Nebraska. Lived in Stromsburg for 6 years as a rancher and banker.

John Mickey – 13th Governor of Nebraska. Moved to Osceola when he was 23 and done with his service in the Civil War. He opened the Osceola Bank in 1879 and was elected treasurer of Polk County. He served 2 terms in the Nebraska House of Representatives and then elected Governor of Nebraska for 2 terms.

Edwin King – Spent his adult life in Osceola. King was an attorney and served in the Nebraska House of Representatives and the Nebraska Senate

Stanley Hathaway – Born in Osceola but moved to Wyoming when he was 2. Served as the 27th Governor of Wyoming, and the 40th Secretary of the Interior appointed by President Ford. Flew B-17 bombers in WWII and flew under General Doolittle’s command. Flew in 35 combat missions and the squadron suffered over 50% casualty rate. In 1 mission bombing an oil refinery, the crew counted 115 holes in the B-17 from fighter planes and anti-aircraft flak. He would graduate from UNL Law after his time in WWII and then moved back to Wyoming where he started practicing law.



GO BIG RED


Resources:
https://storage.googleapis.com/husk.../ZD6pyAK8hFocPYXCFPaVccH8170tcm1uOYyc7u0R.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Nebraska
https://polkcounty.nebraska.gov/
https://polkcounty.nebraska.gov/about
https://nebraskacounties.org/nebraska-counties/county/polk.html
https://nebraskacounties.org/file_download/inline/6ab7ea0a-853e-4a0a-9a41-2ccd1e893717

 

[Anon1752115983]

Other Notable or Prominent People from/born in Polk County:

Harold LeVander – Born in Swedehome, NE, and grew up in Minnesota. He served as the Governor of Minnesota from 1967-1971.

John Dunning – Born and raised in Shelby. He became a physicist who was awarded the Medal of Merit from President Truman for his work on the Manhattan Project. He specialized in neutron physics and was a pioneer in gaseous diffusion for isotope separation.

Howard Johnson – Born and raised in Shelby. He was the first ever National Hot Rod Association national champion in 1955. He founded Howard Cams.

Theodore Kiesselbach – Born and raised in Shelby. Graduated from UNL where he also became a professor. He played a key role in developing hybrid varieties of corn. In 1913 he developed the first hybrid corn in the western United States. By 1949, his hybrids would generate over $42 million of farm income for Nebraskans.

Gil Savery – Born in Shelby and raised in Lincoln. Graduated from UNL and worked for the Lincoln Journal Star from 1941-1985. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1949 for his public service efforts. He was inducted in the Nebraska Journalism Hall of Fame. He received the Master Editor-Publisher Award in 2010, which is the highest honor available from the Nebraska Press Association.

Curtis Tomasevicz – From Shelby, NE, Curtis played football for Nebraska but also is a professor of biological systems engineering at UNL. He is also a professional bobsledder, winning 6 medals at the FIBT World Championships with 2 gold medals, and won gold in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and silver in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Arjay Miller – Born and raised in Shelby and moved to California at 16. While working in the Army tracking logistics for air operations, Miller was selected to a group called the Whiz Kids to bring their logistics expertise to the public sector. Miller would be hired by Ford Motor Company to their finance department. He would later become the VP of finance, and then President of Ford Motor Company. It was under Miller’s tenure the Mustang was unveiled. He is also remembered for adding safety features in automobiles in the 1950s.

James Wilson – In 1927, Wilson completed a 5-month journey from Nigeria to Eritrea (across Africa) on a sidecar. It was the first known motorized crossing of Africa by motorcycle. He would settle in Polk, NE in the late 1930s and became a corn farmer.

John Norton – Born in Stromsburg, and graduated from UNL in 1903. He was the mayor of Osceola from 1908-1909. He served in the Nebraska House of Representatives from 1911-1918 and in Congress from 1927-1929 and 1931-1933

Lynn Boden – Born in Stromsburg, he played football for South Dakota St and was drafted in the first round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions.

Charles Henry Morrill – Born in New Hampshire. After fighting in the Civil War, he moved to Iowa to start a homestead. After 5 years he moved to Stromsburg where he ran a farm and a small store. Morrill was a secretary to Governor Nance and together they formed the Bank of Stromsburg. His explorations took him to what eventually became Scottsbluff. He purchased a tract of land for a town at the western edge of the state and named it after himself (Morrill, NE). Morrill County is named after Charles Morrill. He was a member of the board of regents from 1890-1903 and was president of the board from 1893-1903. He contributed funds for paleontological research and established the Morrill Geological Yearly Expeditions. It is those expeditions that have produced artifacts and exhibits at the State Museum in Morrill Hall.

Ashton Shallenberger – 15th Governor of Nebraska. Lived in Stromsburg for 6 years as a rancher and banker.

John Mickey – 13th Governor of Nebraska. Moved to Osceola when he was 23 and done with his service in the Civil War. He opened the Osceola Bank in 1879 and was elected treasurer of Polk County. He served 2 terms in the Nebraska House of Representatives and then elected Governor of Nebraska for 2 terms.

Edwin King – Spent his adult life in Osceola. King was an attorney and served in the Nebraska House of Representatives and the Nebraska Senate

Stanley Hathaway – Born in Osceola but moved to Wyoming when he was 2. Served as the 27th Governor of Wyoming, and the 40th Secretary of the Interior appointed by President Ford. Flew B-17 bombers in WWII and flew under General Doolittle’s command. Flew in 35 combat missions and the squadron suffered over 50% casualty rate. In 1 mission bombing an oil refinery, the crew counted 115 holes in the B-17 from fighter planes and anti-aircraft flak. He would graduate from UNL Law after his time in WWII and then moved back to Wyoming where he started practicing law.



GO BIG RED


Resources:
https://storage.googleapis.com/husk.../ZD6pyAK8hFocPYXCFPaVccH8170tcm1uOYyc7u0R.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polk_County,_Nebraska
https://polkcounty.nebraska.gov/
https://polkcounty.nebraska.gov/about
https://nebraskacounties.org/nebraska-counties/county/polk.html
https://nebraskacounties.org/file_download/inline/6ab7ea0a-853e-4a0a-9a41-2ccd1e893717

There's also a famous sculptor from Shelby -- Lawrence Duren or something like that. Plus, I believe there was a kid named Havlovic from Osceola who lettered at NU. Played under Bo.

 

[Anon1752115983]

Thank you for your mention of Brian Hiemer. He was that All-American boy who grew up dreaming of playing in Lincoln. Typical hard-nosed hard-working farm kid, strong as an ox (though a bit undersized), quiet and humble. Led Aquinas to a state title in the fall of 1980. At UNL he was a 3.6 student in ag economics who wanted to eventually go back to the farm.

Brian wouldn't take "no" for an answer from the NU football coaches. He played on the frosh team in 1981, kicking a few extra points and playing a bit at tight end. After spring practice in 1982, Coach Huey and Coach Osborne sat him down, thanked him for his efforts, and cut him. That fall he showed up again when practice began, bigger and stronger from time in the weightroom. He was on the scout team that fall and got regularly crushed in practice but was a member of the team and got to travel and suit up for the Orange Bowl vs LSU. Spring practice 1983, same thing -- cut. He told Coach Huey that he'd be back that fall.

And he came back, once again bigger and faster. Due to some injuries, attrition and his hard work, he ascended from literally the 10th tight end on the depth chart to the regular rotation as fourth tight end in '83. Played in every game and lettered. He was a starter in '84 and you may recall that he scored the clinching TD at Colorado after NU entered the 4th quarter behind 7-3. It was on that day I met his sister, my wife.

Brian was set to star on the '85 squad. After his death, the first bouquet we received was from the University of Oklahoma. After reading Barry Switzer's book, it kind of clicked. There is suicide in Switzer's family. We later received a letter from the head of scouting for the NY Jets. It was hand-written and heartfelt. He said he had been studying Brian, liked his positive attributes, and considered him a "steal" for the draft. To this day it's all very sad.

 

[Big bo fan]

There's also a famous sculptor from Shelby -- Lawrence Duren or something like that. Plus, I believe there was a kid named Havlovic from Osceola who lettered at NU. Played under Bo.

Why don’t you take over for @HuskerInCarolina since you seem to know every person born in these counties.